WELCOME
Hi ! My Name is Chris
Certified Dog Trainer
Seattle, Washington
About
My name is Chris Nooney, Certified Dog Trainer. I have over 20 years of shelter work. Experience with shy dogs, teaching loose leash walking, reactive behavior, newly adopted adjustment and more. Love teaching people how dogs learn.
Proper socialization ~
Not every dog is friendly. Some dogs are fearful, reactive, or recovering from trauma. True socialization is not about interaction, it's about exposure and neutrality. Help your dog remain calm and confident in the presence of new stimuli, rather than teaching them to seek engagement or attention. Reward calm curiosity not chaos.
How a dog feels in the moment shapes what they learn and how deeply they retain it.
Every new experience, every challenge, every success or frustration carries an emotional imprint. That imprint tells the dog whether this kind of learning feels safe, rewarding, confusing or threatening.
When we focus only on "what" a dog is learning and ignore "how" they feel while learning it, we lose something vital. Emotions determine whether learning is a confident pattern or an anxious reflex.
Loose Lead Walking
Instead of struggling with every step on a tight leash, teach the dog that walking calmly at your side is the gateway to moving forward.
Each step with a loose leash by your side is reinforced, while pulling gets them nowhere. Begin in a low or no distraction area. Inside your house or garage. Moving slowly and turning to keep the leash slack. Use lots of praise and small snacks to keep the process a pleasant experience. Keep these sessions short 5 to 10 minutes.
Feeling comfortable with this process, move outside to your yard or on a side walk in a low distraction area. Keeping sessions short 10 minutes. Ending on a happy session. Slowly work up to a longer outing.
Contact
Get in touch for consultations and training services. I am here to assist you.
Chris Nooney